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Indulgences

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As stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 1471, "an indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins." Indulgences can be gained for oneself or for the dead to remove "either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin." Here are key things to know about indulgences:

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  • Frequency of gaining indulgences:

    • Partial indulgences can be gained multiple times per day.​

    • Plenary indulgences can be gained only once per day.

  • Four general ways to gain a partial indulgence:

    • ​A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian faithful who, while carrying out their duties and enduring the hardships of life, raise their minds in humble trust to God and make, at least mentally, some pious invocation.

    • A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who, led by the spirit of faith, give compassionately of themselves or of their goods to serve their brothers in need.

    • A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian faithful who, in a spirit of penance, voluntarily abstain from something that is licit for and pleasing to them.

    • A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian faithful who, in the particular circumstances of daily life, voluntarily give explicit witness to their faith before others.

  • Examples of ways to gain a plenary indulgence:​

    • Adore Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament for at least 30 minutes.​

    • Exercise the Way of the Cross.

    • Recite the Rosary in a church or oratory; or in a family, a religious community, or a sodality of the faithful or where several of the faithful are gathered for any good purpose.

    • Read or Listen to the Sacred Scriptures being read for at least 30 minutes.

  • Special conditions for gaining a plenary indulgence:

    • Detachment from all sin, even venial sin.​

    • Make a sacramental confession within several days before or after performing the work.

    • Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father on the same day when performing the work.

    • Receive Holy Communion on the same day when performing the work.

  • Read the Manual of Indulgences for everything you need to know about indulgences, including other examples of gaining a partial or plenary indulgence.​

  • Other info on indulgences from Catholic Answers:

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